Anesthetic gas emissions on the decline

A new study has found that greenhouse gas emissions from anesthetic gases have declined by 27% over the last 10 years, according to an April 3 report from Phys.org.

A February study from Michigan Medicine in Ann Arbor also predicted that switching to less-polluting inhaled anesthetic agents can reduce emissions by 50% in just one year.

The 27% decline is equivalent to around 2 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. Several health systems worldwide have started to eliminate desflurane, the worst anesthesia for the environment. 

Beginning in January, the European Union plans to ban desflurane altogether. Desflurane is 2,500 times more potent than carbon dioxide, according to the April study from Lund University in Sweden. 

The study looked at global sales data of anesthetic gases from 91 countries and calculated the climate impact using global warming potentials — carbon dioxide equivalents — for a 100-year period.

Here are the top 10 global greenhouse gas emissions-producing nation entities in the world:

Note: This list includes ties.

1. United States: 22%

2. EU: 19% 

3. Japan: 16%

4. China: 14%

5. South Korea: 6%

6. Russia: 3%

7. (tie) Thailand: 2%

7. (tie) India: 2%

7. (tie) Turkey: 2%

7. (tie) Taiwan: 2%

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